Featured Country: Uzbekistan,

Uzbekistan's competitive advantage is its strategic location as a transit and industrial hub in Central Asia, backed by its large reserves of oil, natural gas, gold, other precious metals and raw materials. Uzbekistan's economy is mainly based on agriculture, which makes up nearly 25% of GDP. Textiles, in particular cotton and silk, are the main source of Uzbekistan's export revenue. The industrial sector contributes nearly a third of the GDP and the services sector contributes 47% of GDP.


Because of an over-regulated trade policy, the Uzbek economy is not very open to trade. The country imports machinery and equipment, chemical products, food products and ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Its main partners are the European Union, which represents 50% of the total Uzbek trade value, and Russia , with 25%.

Since 1994, there is a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) between the U.S. and the Central Asian nations Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The TIFA provides a strategic framework and principle for dialogue on trade and investment issues between the United States and the other parties.

For details on the most popular products traded between Uzbekistan & United States, consult the US Census Bureau's Website (choose Imports or Exports).

Uzbek domestic goods distribution is not very diversified. Road-side markets and store-based retail are targeted at the mostly low-income population. Supermarkets belonging to foreign firms, notably Turkish, are mostly reserved for the rich and foreigners. Over the past few years, non-store retailing (internet retailing and direct selling) have achieved impressive growth, thanks to government reforms to promote the use of Internet in urban centers.

Uzbekistan is attracting more and more foreign direct Investment every year, in particular in the energy as well as the new technologies sectors. The current Tax Code offers certain tax incentives to encourage manufacturers, importers and exporters of strategically important products. For more information you can consult the Governmental Portal.

For information in English about the country, visit the websites of the Uzbek Embassy in the United States and the American-Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce (AUCC). If that's not enough, you'll also find plenty of good research at the FITA Mini Portal of Uzbekistan a feature of the FITA Web site. The FITA Mini Portal has an overview of the country, with facts about the language, currency, climate, etc., plus more specific information about the eco! nomy, markets, taxes, labor market indicators, and tips on doing business in Uzbekistan.

Our Global Citizen policy holders can receive excellent modern medical care at the Tashkent International Medical Clinic where you can examined by U.S. trained physician and also direct bill medical expenses.  If you need a specialists that is not available locally, then emergency medical evacuation can be coordinated.  Be award that the U.S. State Department reports medical care in Uzbekistan is below Western standards, with severe shortages of basic medical supplies, including disposable needles, anesthetics, and antibiotics. A large percentage of medication sold in local pharmacies is known to be counterfeit. Elderly travelers and those with pre-existing health problems may be at particular risk due to inadequate medical facilities. Most resident Americans travel to a higher standard of care for their medical needs. Travelers are advised to drink only boiled water, peel all fruits and vegetables, and avoid undercooked meat. Due to inadequate sanitation conditions, travelers should avoid eating unpasteurized dairy products and most food sold in the streets.

Tuberculosis is an increasingly serious health concern in Uzbekistan.  Some HIV/AIDS entry restrictions exist for visitors to and foreign residents of Uzbekistan. Uzbek law mandates that visitors carry a medical certificate attesting that they are not infected with HIV and that visitors staying more than 15 days be tested. However, this requirement is rarely enforced except in cases of long-term visitors on work permits.

What is known as a pharmacy in the United States is referred to as an 'apteka' in Uzbekistan. Pharmacies can be found in most major bazaars in the cities and typically do not have an English speaking staff. They tend to be stocked of both typical medicines and indigenous recipes, but it is possible to find clean supplies, such as syringes, in most pharmacies. There is a significant amount of counterfeit drugs and lack of standardized controls within the former Soviet Union republics.

Regardless of the pharmacy situation in any country, it is always advisable to bring enough medication to last through your trip. Be sure to carry it with you rather than trusting it to checked luggage (many frequent travelers bring a double supply of medication and pack each in different bags). It is also advisable to carry extra prescription sheets written by your doctor (with the generic names) in case you need refills during your trip and to show at customs as proof of the medication's identity and necessity. Always remember to check the expiration dates on all medications, whether they are from home or abroad. Depending on where you are traveling, you may also want to carry an anti-diarrheal medication and/or ask your physician for an appropriate anti-diarrheal prescription, as a precautionary measure.